Africa

PSC to monitor conduct of police for Nigeria’s 2019 general elections

The Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Alhaji Musiliu Smith, has said that the commission will monitor the conduct of police personnel deployed for the 2019 general elections.

Smith told the four-day Management Retreat of the Commission on Monday in Enugu in south-eastern Nigeria that the commission would replicate the model it used for Osun governorship election in September where telephone hotlines were put in place to enable members of the public report erring police officers.

He said that the PSC would also establish an on-the-spot team that would quickly resolve all reports and advise on disciplinary measures as required.

“We believe this strategy instilled a certain measure of confidence in the police at the time and caused them to be more professional in the discharge of their duty to citizens.”

“This established a sense of mutual respect in both the police and citizens and it is a model we intend to replicate for the 2019 general elections,” local media reported on Tuesday, 20 November 2018, quoted Smith.

Smith explained that the retreat became necessary following the need to develop a three-year strategic plan as a compass in the quest to remodel the police force.

He said that the commission was also worried that the police are viewed with suspicion of partisanship by members of the public.

“Without doubt, Nigeria is bedevilled with security challenges ranging from insurgency to intra-organisational hiccups within the security forces, including the police.”

“How, for instance, do we supervise and regulate the police in 2019 general elections when the police are viewed with suspicion of partisanship by the public? How do we deal with allegations of human rights abuses brought against officers?”

“What is the best way to position our police to enhance their crime fighting abilities in line with best practices? The PSC is already taking steps to improve the professionalism with the force and these steps will further be consolidated at the end of this retreat,” he said.

The theme of the retreat is ‘Re-positioning and Strengthening the Police Service Commission for Effective Mandate Delivery’.

– APA